America: Bottled Water Regulation Paradise

Fact: Bottled water manufacturers are not required to disclose as much information as municipal water utilities because of gaps in federal oversight authority.

Fact: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees bottled water, and U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of tap water. FDA lacks the regulatory authority of EPA.

Fact:The Safe Drinking Water Act empowers EPA to require water testing by certified laboratories and that violations be reported within a specified time frame. Public water systems must also provide reports to customers about their water, noting its source, evidence of contaminants and compliance with regulations.

Fact: FDA regulates bottled water as a food and cannot require certified lab testing or violation reporting.

Fact:FDA does not require bottled water companies to disclose to consumers where the water came from, how it has been treated or what contaminants it contains. Read the full article.